title: White blood cell differential counts in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study on Chinese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A state of systemic chronic low grade inflammation has been observed in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It has been suggested that inflammation is a potential mechanism influencing the ovaries or endocrine system and might therefore contribute to the pathophysiology of PCOS. The aim of this study was to compare the total white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil granulocyte and lymphocyte differential counts between women with PCOS and controls. In addition, we estimated if the WBC differential counts had a relationship with body mass index (BMI), total testosterone levels, estradiol levels and luteinizing hormone levels of women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  1016 subjects with PCOS and 1016 age-matched healthy women from a Han Chinese population were enrolled in this case-control study. Blood samples were taken from all the patients and controls to test total WBC counts, lymphocyte counts, neutrophil counts and related serum hormones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total WBC counts and lymphocyte counts were elevated in PCOS subjects (t-test P<0.01). Higher lymphocyte counts which contributed to higher total WBC counts in PCOS women were compared to age-matched controls. When the data were adjusted by BMI, the difference of WBC counts and lymphocyte counts between patients and controls remained significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The state of chronic low grade inflammation in patients with PCOS might be associated with immunological factors. Obesity and hyperandrogenism may be due to the underlying low grade inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China; National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, 250021, China; The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, 250021, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan 250021, China. Electronic address: shiyuhua2003@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Linlin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Guihua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ronghua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Mingdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Zi-jiang
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone
keywords: Body mass index; Lymphocyte; Polycystic ovary syndrome; White blood cell